This Saturday – Ice Skate with Recycle Raccoon at the Pettit

Visit the Pettit's website to learn more.

This Saturday (February 28, 2009) I have very exciting plans.  I am going to be at the Pettit National Ice Center in West Allis for an event ‘Skate with the Mascots’.  I will be there from 1 PM to 4 PM, and you should be there too! Visit the Pettis’s website to learn more.

50 Green Tips

Thanks to The Point of It All for this great link.

Recycling of course made the list, both items that can be put in your curbside bin as well as items that need to be taken to a various recycling drop off locations (like batteries).  However there are a lot of other helpful tips that fall into the reduce & reuse categories.  These include energy and water use.  Each of the 50 actions is also supported with a statistic.  Definitely a site worth a look.

Bibbidi-bobbidi-bye-bye: Recycling Old Formalwear

Penelope, now that you have won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, what are you going to do with that dress? (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

I am a sucker for an awards show.  In college my roomate and I would host an annual Oscar Gala in which we would dust off old prom dresses and eat food that was selected to coincide with the five nomonees for best picture.  (The year Crash was nominated I recall cutting a lot of celery to make “cars”)  

And, whether it be THE Academy Awards, or an event with more viscious paparazzi (read: my mother for homecoming or prom), after the lights have dimmed and the hair has drooped, a decision must be made of what to do with THE dress.  There are a lot of great uses for those yards and yards of fabric besides keeping them in the back of your closet.  A few ideas include:

• Reduce: Don’t buy the gown in the first place.  Consider updating a thirft store find.
• Reduce: If you are very talented, make your own dress from found fabrics or newspaper.  I recall seing a girl from West Allis that also did this.
• Reduce: Rent a dress from a local bridesmaid or wedding shop. (From Ideal Bite)
• Reuse: When you are done with the dress, consider donating it to a worthy cause.  Check out The Bridesmaid Party or The Glass Slipper Project to get your duds to a worthy cause.  Locally, there is also a Becca’s Closet chapter and The Boys and Girls Club takes donations for their Sista Pride Initiative (although I can’t find a press release with information on this years drop off sites yet.)  
• Reuse: Consider making a patch work quilt ou to f all those shiny materials as a way to remember special formal events.  I have a good friend that could rival Katherine Heigl in 27 Dresses and she made a beautiful blanket.  This trick also works well for the larger-than-life t-shirt collections people collect.
• Reuse: Not too crafty?  Take it to a seamstress and create an heirloom piece like a christening gown from a wedding dress.
• Reuse: Seamstress part deux: If you love the top of a dress, consider hacking off the skirt to be left with a formal top.  
• Reuse: Make throw pillows 
• Reuse: If you have a lot of material, you can easily make a Christmas tree skirt.  I did this with the train of my wedding dress and am quite happy with the result
• Recycle: Fabric can be recycled if it is damaged beyond reuse.  

Do you have any other suggestions?  Please share!

recycle more,
Recycle Raccoon

Win $5K by making a sustainability video

A heads up from Leah at Suddenly Frugal.

I just got the heads up that time is running out to enter the Just Do One video contest. The winning video entry will receive a cash prize of $5,000.00.  We all know someone who could use $5,000.00 right now, right?

Entering is simple. Just take a 3 minute video of you, your friends, your family or anyone you know doing one act of sustainability.  Not sure what that qualifies as sustainable?

Here are some video ideas:

·   Buying organic food & wine from Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, etc.
·   Setting up a compost bin
·   Packing groceries in canvas totes rather than plastic bags
·   Dressing the family in organic clothing
·   Cleaning the babies room/house/automobile/boat/garage with eco-friendly cleaning products
·   Turning off the lights when leaving the house
·   Car pooling
·   Driving a hybrid vehicle
·   Video clip from a green baby shower/green wedding/green Christmas party

These are all simple ideas that help save our planet. They might just save you–and you–some dough, too.

The deadline to enter is March 1, 2009 and the winner will receive press coverage leading up to Earth Day–good for any entrepreneurs or small-business owners that read this blog.

Good luck!

 

Learn about Waukesha County's sustainability plan here

 

Unsure how sustainability started?  Check out my post about the UN defining sustainability

Recycling Myth: It just goes to the landfill anyway.

Recycling makes sense  both economically and environmentally.  However, when I am giving a presentation or a MRF Tour, some people try to disagree.  The problem is that people are making old arguments from 20 or more years ago.  Over the next few days I will share some of the most common myths about recycling and arguments for not recycling that I occasionally hear.

Myth #1: Stuff I recycle just goes to the landfill anyway. 

This argument is usually from a person who “saw” the garbage man or janitor mix the recyclables and the trash together.  Garbage haulers do not do this because it is illegal and they would get in serious trouble if someone found out.    In some neighborhoods, especially in Waukesha County, the hauler uses a little truck or scooter to pick up recycling and garbage from houses.  The truck is divided into 3 compartments: one for garbage, one for paper recycling, and one for commingled recycling (bottles, cans, etc).    Little trucks are used because they are quicker and easier to maneuver through neighborhoods.  They also use less gas than the large trucks.  

Once the little trucks are full, they meet in a central location and sort the materials into the larger ‘mother trucks’.  One big truck is filled with ONLY garbage and goes to the landfill.  The other truck is filled with ONLY recyclables and comes to the MRF (Materials Recycling Facility).  This large truck is divided down the middle: one side is filled with paper and the other side is filled with commingled recyclables (plastic #1 & plastic #2 bottles and jugs, aluminum cans, glass jars, and steel or tin cans).  

Below are some pictures of the trucks used for this process.   They were taken in the city of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.  I hope this helps clarify what happens to your recyclables.  If you ever have a question, do not hesitate to ask.  

recycle more,

Recycle Raccoon

 

 

Here is the little truck.

 

In goes the trash.

In go the bottles and cans.

 

In goes the bagged or bundled paper.

How is this large cardboard going to fit? It won't. Please make sure you cut your cardboard to 3' x 4' or smaller sections. It also needs to be tied together.

 

 

 

This is the big recycling truck.

Here is a big recycling truck tipping out the bottles and cans at the MRF.

Happy Birthday Thomas Malthus!

The original McDreamy, methinks.

mk.  With all the hulabaloo about some other famous birthdays this week, I figured I would take a moment to honor Thomas Malthus.  Basically, he theorized that population could grow faster than our ability to produce enough food to support said growing population.  Awesome.  He influenced such people as Charles Darwin and John Maynard Keynes.  Have I mentioned that (sans mascot costume) I am taking an Environmental Economics class this semester?  I am assuming we will get to the Malthusian Catastrophe at some point.  Basically, this guys huge theory that gets him all famous is that he thinks eventually we will run out of stuff to fulfill the needs of people.  This is oversimplified, of course.  

Takeaway point?  Because, yes, I indeed have one.

Don’t use up more resources than you need to.  Why speed up this guy’s theory?

Single Serving of ice cream that is dwarfed by a spoon? Fail.

Reduce.  For every trash can of garbage (or bin of recyclables) you put on your curb, around 70 other trash cans were filled just to make the stuff in your 1 garbage can!   Easy ways to do this?  Buy in bulk if you will use all of a product.  Use a lunch box and reusable food storage containers.  Get reusable bags for shopping.  Get a reusable mug for coffee or a canteen for water.  

Reuse.  If you do end up with a plastic bag from a store, why not use it as a trash can liner rather than buying the little liners from the store?  After all, Americans spend more on trash can liners than 90 other countries spend on everything.  Donate items you no longer have a use for.    Feeling really froggy?  My favorite reuse strategies to get your garden going for spring include making seedling pots from toilet paper roll tubes and then making a little greenhouse to help the seeds grow.  

Recycle.  Don’t send valuable resources to the landfill where they will never again see the light of day.  We landfill enough aluminum in this country to rebuild every single commercial airplane every three months!  Americans throw, on average, 2,502,500 water bottles in the garbage every hour!  This statistic doesn’t even count soda bottles.  When people throw away these materials they are throwing away natural resources (in this case bauxite, oil, and water), energy, and the economic benefits that recycling provides (because no matter how you slice it in Waukesha, recycling makes money and trash costs money).

Three little words could help slow Malthus’ Catastrophe quite a bit.
recycle more,
Recycle Raccoon

What is Hazardous Waste?

Generally, waste is considered hazardous if it is

• Ignitable (i.e. burns readily)
• Corrosive
• Reactive (i.e. explosive)
• Waste may also be considered hazardous if it contains certain toxic chemicals.

 

Most hazardous products are labeled with key words.  Some signal words are
Caution Warning Danger Poison	Flammable Combustible Corrosive

These products are not safe enough to be placed in your trash.  Some examples of haz waste?  From the house — cfls, mothballs, thermometers or thermostats with mercury, and polish or spot removers that are flammable.  From the garage — oil based paint, stain, paint thinner, concrete cleaner with acids, or glues that contain petroleum distillates.  From the yard — anything that kills weeds, bugs, or rodents, pool chemicals, and lighter fluid.  From the car — antifreeze, carburetor cleaner, degreasers, fuel, and road flares.

These items are collected from Waukesha County residents at no cost.  However, like every econ teacher says, “There is no free lunch!”  This program is subsidized by revenue generating portions of the recycling program.  Best thing to do?  Avoid using hazardous products!  This will keep you and the environment a little bit healthier.  However, if you must use these items, make sure they end up in the right place.  Drop off your hazardous waste in Waukesha County at one of 4 permanent centers.  Once the products are collected, they are neutralized or taken to a special landfill designed to hold hazardous wastes.   

Interested in cutting back on the toxins?  Schedule a Green Cleaning Party to learn about ways to clean with less toxins or schedule a Green Garden Party to learn how to use less chemicals on your garden and lawn.

Recycling Factoids

Are you looking for some dinner party factoids?   Do you want to amaze and astound your friends with your statistical prowess and overall green knowledge?  Here (in a very pretty graphic, if I don’t say so myself) are some of my favorite recycling, waste reduction, and natural resource statistics.

Want to learn more?  Join the Waukesha County Recycling Staff at our bi-annual OPEN HOUSE on Saturday, April 18 from 10 AM to Noon.  Call (262)896-8300 for more information or visit our website at www.waukeshacounty.gov/recycling.  

 

Click to enlarge.

That Squeaky Clean Feeling

I am spending the majority of my day cleaning tomorrow.  Ick.  However, apparently I am not the only one because I have been receiving a few calls this week where residents want to know how to dispose of leftover cleaning products.  

How do I dispose of cleaning products?

 

Disposing of typical cleaning products (cleaners with ammonia, cleaners with bleach, or typical disinfectants) can easily occur by pouring them down your drain.  Never mix products containing ammonia with those containing bleach.  A toxic gas can form! The bottles are usually recyclable, so make sure to check if the bottles have a #1 or a #2 on the bottom!  Looking to make less of an environmental impact?  See if a neighbor, family member, or other organization could use the left-overs.  Best option? consider making your own for maximum environmental, health, and economic benefits.

Drain, oven, and toilet cleaners should be placed in the trash.  

Metal cleaners, Floor wax strippers, and polish or spot removers with solvents (which would have words such as ‘flammable’, ‘comubstible’, or ‘contains petroleum distillates’) need to be brought to a county Household Hazardous Waste Collection Site.

To learn more about making your own household cleaners, schedule a Green Cleaning Party.  Discover what toxins we clean with every day while learning to make various easy, inexpensive non-toxic alternatives.  “Make & Take” two of your own favorite nontoxic cleaning products.

All Purpose Spray Cleaner

1 tsp castile soap

1 tsp borax

2 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice

Water to fill a 16 oz spray bottle

This mix contains borax so it is best not to use this spray in the kitchen or where food is prepared.  Hot water increases the working power of the vinegar.  

Total cost: 11¢ per bottle (compared to $1.65 for the same amount of 409 if you purchase the refill bulk bottle!)

Window & Kitchen Spray Cleaner

2 tbsp vinegar

1 tsp castile soap

Water to fill a 16 oz spray bottle

Hot water increases the working power of the vinegar.  

Total cost: 10¢ per bottle

Soft Scrub

2 cups baking soda

1/2 cup castile soap

4 tsp vegetable glycerin (optional)

The glycerin acts as a preservative to keep everything moist and is one of the more expensive items in this mix.  Avoid using the glycerin by mixing as you go.  This non-abrasive cleaner is a great deodorizer and is safe pretty much anywhere.  I have had AMAZING luck using it in my oven.

Total cost: $3.88 (with glycerin) $2.56 (w/o)

Wood Floor Mopping Cleaner

1/4 c castile soap

1/8 to 1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice

1/4 cup herb tea

1 gallon of water

Total cost: $1.04

So, that is that.   Looking for more recipes?  Check out care2.com.  Interested in hosting a Green Cleaning Party of your own?  We were inspired by Women’s Voices for the Earth to add a cleaning party to our other party presentations (Green Garden Parties and Green Living Parties can also be scheduled through our office!)  Check out their website for info on holding your own Green Cleaning Party.  Also, as I have only been doing this for the past year and a half, I would love to hear from those DIY veterans out there!  What are your favorite non-toxic cleaners?

 

*UPDATE* Leah over at Suddenly Frugal just made her first batch of DIY laundry soap.  Check out the recipe and how it went at her blog.

GreenAR by the Day also came up with powdered dish soap.  Check out the super-easy directions here.